Brewers Beat Rays to Win World Series Game 1 Behind Misiorowski
- The Milwaukee Brewers opened the 2026 World Series by jumping ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays early, as fireballing ace Jacob Misiorowski and the bullpen secured a 1-0...
- By capturing the opener, the Brewers secured a crucial historical advantage.
- The matchup brought together the top teams from each league for the Fall Classic.
The Milwaukee Brewers opened the 2026 World Series by jumping ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays early, as fireballing ace Jacob Misiorowski and the bullpen secured a 1-0 series lead at American Family Field.
By capturing the opener, the Brewers secured a crucial historical advantage. Game 1 winners in the World Series have gone on to win the Fall Classic 63.6% of the time, a trend that holds true in 18 of the last 23 and 23 of the last 28 World Series dating back to 1997. Furthermore, home teams have historically won the World Series opener 72 out of 121 times.
Road to the Opener
The matchup brought together the top teams from each league for the Fall Classic. The host Brewers advanced after setting a franchise record with 103 wins and sweeping the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays claimed the best record in the American League at 98-64 before sweeping their way through the postseason.
There it is!Brewers officially take Game 1.@MLBONFOX pic.twitter.com/t3zrBgqv2q
Ahead of Game 1, the Rays opted to give their ace, Drew Rasmussen, an extra day of rest, starting Drew Rasmussen‘s replacement instead in the opener. The Brewers countered by handing the ball to Misiorowski, their 24-year-old ace, marking the first time the World Series has come to Milwaukee in 44 years.
The Battle Ahead
While the Brewers secured the vital first victory, questions remain as the series continues. The Rays enter the remainder of the matchup facing defensive and late-inning pressure, including questions regarding closer Bryan Baker’s fastball velocity drop after pitching on three consecutive days to close out the ALCS. Tampa Bay remains a formidable test, boasting a 92-0 record this year—including regular season and postseason play—when leading after eight innings.